Palin says country needs dose of 'Midwestern Common Sense'

Sunday

Apr 18, 2010 at 12:01 AMApr 18, 2010 at 5:00 PM

What unites Americans - a strong work ethic, security and a government that allows people to live how they choose - is stronger than what divides them. And Americans need to unite to get the economy back on track.

KAREN McDONALD

What unites Americans - a strong work ethic, security and a government that allows people to live how they choose - is stronger than what divides them. And Americans need to unite to get the economy back on track.

Former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican candidate for vice president Sarah Palin delivered that message as part of the inaugural speech Saturday in Five Points Washington's "Lessons From Leaders" speakers series.

Palin commented on the Land of Lincoln having a "most diverse political scene" and referenced the "Will it play in Peoria?" cliche.

"Nobody here is ordinary. ... Much of the eyes of America are on this part of our nation because this is a representation of good, hard-working, grounded, unpretentious, patriotic Americans," she said.

One of those people, Palin said, is former President Ronald Reagan, a Eureka College graduate, who believed in limited government in order to expand opportunity and prosperity. Reagan was a Midwestern boy who understood the importance of work ethic, not entitlement, she said.

"We need a dose of that Midwestern common sense now more than ever," Palin said.

John Morris, director of development for the Ronald W. Reagan Leadership Program and Ronald Reagan Museum at Eureka College, said remarks about the college by a potential Republican candidate for president in 2012 are "thrilling."

"Eureka College is a national living legacy to this story that in America you can come from anywhere and with the right values you can go on to help change the world. Eureka College is the living legacy to the story of Ronald Reagan," Morris said.

Palin took several jabs at President Barack Obama's Harvard Law School education. She said the U.S. is on pace to quadruple the deficit, called the federal health care bill "Obama-care" and the "mother of all unfunded mandates," and chastised Congress for what she called "bullying" of Peoria-based Caterpillar Inc.

"Washington's idea is to tax and borrow and spend our way out of big problems," Palin said, adding both Republicans and Democrats are to blame. "We're sticking our kids with the bill. I think that is immoral."

Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis said Palin hit on points resonating throughout the country "like getting the government under control and getting taxes under control and having people get the government back."

Leadership is speaking out, sticking up for your beliefs, getting involved and contributing to the community. "We want leadership that offers common sense principles and offers common sense solutions," she said.

A sold-out crowd of 1,100 people turned out for Palin's speech, titled "You Don't Need a Title to Make a Difference." Audience members submitted questions for possible inclusion in a question-and-answer session after the speech.

Said U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria: "She's definitely got a role in shaping American politics and American policy, and when she speaks, people listen.

"I thought she gave a very inspiring speech about some of the challenges she went through in her own life as mayor of Wasilla and governor of Alaska and as a candidate for the vice presidency of the United States," he added.

Her speech was preceded by a $200-per-plate banquet. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Five Points capital projects fund and provide scholarships for area students.

"I'm not necessarily a Sarah Palin fan, but I think people in her position have interesting things to say. After all, she was the governor of Alaska," said Peoria County Sheriff Mike McCoy. "I'm not necessarily a Joe Biden fan, but I listened to him, too, when he came to Peoria last month to speak on domestic violence because he has a passion for that and his speech was outstanding."

Palin is just the latest political figure to stop in Illinois. Last month, Vice President Biden was the keynote speaker for The Center for Prevention of Abuse Partners in Peace event in Peoria. President George W. Bush's former senior adviser Karl Rove was the keynote speaker at the Tazewell County Republicans Lincoln Day Brunch in East Peoria.

Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack toured RMH Foods in Morton. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood spoke briefly at the Partners in Peace event and was the keynote speaker for February's Peoria County Bar Association Lincoln Memorial Banquet.

Karen McDonald can be reached at 686-3285 or kmcdonald@pjstar.com. Lauren Rees contributed to this story.